Lamp stem holder



lMarch 27, 1928. J. J- HIGGINS LAMP STEM HOLDER Filed Dec. 5. 1924INVENToR 'JOHN J. HIGGINS.

ATTORNEY l Patented Mar., 27, 19228.

f UNITED- s'rArEs PATENT orrlca.

.Tomi .osnrn HIGGINS, or naar omen, NEW JERSEY, AssIeNon'rownsrmGi-Iousn Lm OOHPANY, A CORPORATION F PENNSYLVANIA..

s'rnu Homann i Appnminn mea ncoember s, im. serial No. 753,559.

This invention relates to machines for the manufactureofincandescentelectric lamps and more 'particularly to a holder forsup-v porting lamp stems for operations thereon, Y 6 An object of theinvention is to provide a rigid and durable stem holder applicable tolamp-making machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stem holder comprisingsubstantially 1o anti-friction members to vertically support a lampstem. l Another object of the invention iste provide a pluralityofcontact members having movable contact surfaces forsupporting a l lampstem for rotation with its longitudinal axis coincident with a `venvertical line. A further-object' ,o the invention is to provideamultiple contact gripping device attachable -to a support. wire insertinmay chine to support a stem for 'rotation uring the insertion of supportwires.

Other ob 'ects and advantages will be apparent as t e descriptionproceeds. y .i K Y The manufacture of incandescent electric .25 lampsincludes an operation which is known as inserting. VThis inserting oeration includes `the Vlocal heating of a utton of a lamp stern and theinsertion of an end of a wire into the heated or softened portion.Thevwire is then severed at a. given length and the. free 'end bent toprovidea hook.

The support Wires are inserted radially in spaced relation around abutton or buttons of a stem and -a filament wireis subsequently drapedabout orv hung upon the support wires. A stem having the filamentmounted thereon: is ready for consolidation with a bulb and is termed amount. Inasmuch as the support Wires are inserted at, different o pointsin a button, the stem must be so supported that it may be held in agiven position and at the same time be rotatable to present differentpoints successively for the insertion of support wires.

Mechanism for performing the operation of rotating a support of thischaracter is more clearly shown in copending application of Madden andHiggins, Serial No. \556,957, filed April 27 1922, combined but- ,tonmaking and inserting machine and assigned to the sameassignee as is thepresent tive relation to a rotatable platform including a slottedextension to receive la reduced Aportion of a stem. The gripping membersmay include contact surfaces comprising roller members and springactuated fingers may be provided to maintain a stem in contact with therollers and to furnish an additional contact point to center the stem.

The invention will be more fully under; stood by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a'portion of astem-making machine showing two stem holders in accordance'with thepresent invention;` l

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of .sa portionpof an inserting machineshowing one of the stem supports; y Fig. 3A is an enlarged fragmentaryview taken on line III- III in Fig.. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View taken on line IV -IVpin Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the stein holder showing a stempositioned therein;

Fig. 6 is la sectional view yof a portion of the rotatable supportshowing an adjustable platform, and l l Fig. 7 is a sectional view takenthrough `the bearings for the rollers which constitute may berotatablein a bearing 12 of s'ta tionary structure 13 of a lamp-makingma chine. AThe shaft 11 may'be rotated inter mittently through anysuitable mechanism (not shown), in a manner common to this 'type ofmachine; that is, when a, lamp stem has been held in a certain positionfor given operations, vmechanism operates to rotate' the shaft andposition another stem for 'operations thereon.

The spider 9 is provided with arms 14 to the ends of which arewattaeliedadjustable bearing plates 15 and 16.-"1`l1e plate 15 is provided with apair of rollers 17 and the plate 16 is provided with a pair of rollers18. The plates and 17 may be secured to the end of the/'arm 14 bysuitable tap bolts 19 which may extend through slots 21 in the plate 1'5through the arm and into threaded apertures in the plate 16. By reasonof the slots 21, the rollers 17 may 1() are provided with bearin beadjusted-With respect to the rollers 18. The ends of the arms 20 of thelower spider plates 22 to support al pair of grooved rol ers 23. Whenthe device is set up initially, the rollers 18 and v23 may be positionedin proper alignment to engage with an arbor 24 of a stem 25 as shown forexample inFig. 5. The rollers 17 may then be adjusted to position toalso engage with the arbor, thus a stem whenengaged with three pairs ofcontact members will be roperly positioned in the desired verticalalignment.

The rollers which may -be termed adjustable or changeable surfacecontact members, not only permit the free rotary movement of a stem, buthave long life as contacts, since any Wear that may occur is uniformlydistributed. On thel other hand, the wear is lessthan with a stationarycontact, since the frictionbetween the stem and the contact surface isreduced to a minimum.

For the purpose of maintaining the arbor 24 in engagement with therollers, contact arms or lever members 26 and 27 are provided, the lever26 being pivoted at 28 in an extension 29 whichmay project from an endof an arm 14. The lever 27 may be pivoted at 31 in an extension 32 atthe end of an arm 20. The levers 26 and 27 are normally urged to engagewith an arbor under the action of springs 33 (see Fig. 3) which makeposition and it is necessary to remove a stem.

contact Vwith the longer arms 34 of the-contact levers.

In addition to the several contacting members for aligning the stem,means for rotating a stem are provided and may comprise'a bracket 35having a platform 36 to receive a ared portion 37 of a stem and aprojection 38 having a slot -40 (see Fig. 4) toreceive the flattenedpress portion 39 of the stem. The bracket 35 may be secured to a spindle41 .rotatable in a vertical bearing 42 integral with a hub 43 securedtothe shaft l1. The s indle 41 may have secured to the lower en thereofa ratchet wheel 44 which is adapted to be engaged by suitable mecha7 msmto rotate the spindle and hence the bracket 35 intermittently, inaccordance with the inserting operation as set forth in Athe abovementioned copending application.

In Fig..2 a so-called inserting ram 45 is indicated 1n dotted lines asinserting' al'wire 46 into the button of a stem; a fire 47 is alsoindicated showing the relative position thereof. It Will be understoodthe flame heats a portion of the button and the ram inserts a supportWire 46. The button is then rotated a given number of degrees; the flameheats another' portion of the button and the ram then operates to insertthe end of another wire 46. After each inserting operation, the wire issevered` and mechanism operates to form a hook 48 at the` end' thereof.1 j

It will thus be seen that the present holder provides a simple andeffective device adapted to facilitate the rotation of'the stem and atthe same time avoids wear upon the contact surfaces. Although the leverarms 26 and 27 may be operated independently, means are provided wherebythe same may be operated together by hand or by a foottreadle.

The simultaneous actuation of the arms 26 and 27 may be accomplished bymeans shaft 49e'ects an engagement between the levers 26 and 27 and theuprights 55 and 56 causing ends or jaws 57 of the levers to move torelease or secure a stem. This rotary movement may be had by providingthe shaft 49 with a pinion 58 disposed in mesh with a rack 59 slidablein a suitable housing 61 integral with the lower spider 10. The rack maybe provided with a projection 62 so proportioned as to be disposed inoperative relation with an end `63 (see Fig. 1) of a lever 64 when astem holder is in a given position, as for example in the unloading Thelever 64 is pivoted at 65 in bearings 65 secured to any suitablestationary portion of the machine and a spring 66 may be provided tonormally maintain the upright pins 55 and 56 in contact with the levers26 and 27.

' A long arm 66 of the lever 64 may be connected 'by means of a cable 67to a foottreadle (not shown) or the arm may be operated by hand to causethe end 63 to engage with-the projection 62 of the rack 59, thusactuating the device to open the jaws to receive or release a stem.

Each ofl the stem holders may be provided with mechanism as abovedescribed for simultaneously actuating the upper and lower levers. Incertain types of machines, only one operating lever's required such asthe lever 64 for actuating the jaws when a. holder reaches a givenposition, as for example in machines in which the loading and uns'loading is performed at one position.

However, in other types of machines Where one girl unloads and anothergirl loads, a second operating lever 68 is requ`ired,.the mechanism forand the operation of which is, similar to that described for the levers64.

The reason for two operators in connection with certain of thesemachines is that the operator who receives the stem at the unloading-position also performs a mount ing operation; that is, she mounts thellalll) ment on the stem as soon as she lreceives it, Whereas theoperator at the loading position'takes care of a stem-making-machine andtransfers the stems therefrom to the inserting machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that a lamp stem maybe readily applied to a holder by opening the jaws 57 through amanipulation of an actuating lever, when a support has reached theloading position. The stem is then positioned upon the latform 36 andthe flattenedprssed portion 39 ofthe stem enters the slot 40, f thus theplatform may be rotated to rotate the stem. For stems of the tiplesslamp type `vvhich'include an exhaust tube 69, a notch 71 may be providedin the platformv 36. As shown in Fig. 6 the platform 36 is adjustablealong the bracket 35 and maybe secured thereto by means of a clampcomprising a U-shaped member 72 and a screw 73 which may extend througha slot 74 in the bracket 'andbe threadedly connected to the back portion75 of the U-shaped plate member.

A Ydevice such as shown `and described )herein is particularlyadvantageous in connection with lamp-makin machinery since it provides asimple, an practical holder adapted for the free movement of a stemduring operations thereon and is of particular advantage in connectionwith inserting machines where an accurate and steady supportingstructure for a stem is essential.

The novel structure constituting this pres- 'ent holder includes whatmay be termed a five point Contact for .the stem since the three pairsof rollers andthe `two arms ,engage with the stem and thus insureitsaccurate alignment and -itsflrm disposition against lateral movement.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and describedvherein, it

\ is, to be understood that modifications may beimade therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth bytheappended claims` 1 What is claimed is:

`f l-1. Adevice for holding an incandescent Aelectric lamp StemComprising rotatable soffsupport having an adjustable platform to "if,support a stem, means for preventing rela- -x'ltive movement of saidstem with respect to 111g a stem on the axis of rotation of said vsupport and means for holding a stem in fcontact with said members.

. 2. A device for holding an incandescent i electriel-,amp work partcomprising a rotat able support to hold va Work part, a plurality aidplatform, adjustable members for alignmaintaining said part in ContactWith said' members;

`4f. A device for holding an incandescent electric lamp stem comprisinga bracket-to support a stem, a plurality of pairs of roller membersspaced apart to engage With and' align a lamp stem upon the verticalaxis of said bracket, an arm cooperating with each pair of rollers 'tohold a stem in contact therewith and means for simultaneously actuatingsaid arms to release said stem..

5. A machine for holding lamp stems during the insertionfof supportWires comprisinga rotatable conveyor, a` plurality of stem holderscarried b said conveyor, said holders including a justable contactmembers i for aligning a stem upon the vertical axis of a. holder andmeans for holding the stems in engagement with said members.

' c. A machine for holding lamp siemsdur: j

ing the insertion of support wires comprising a rotatable conveyor, aplurality of stem holders carried b said conveyor, said holdersincluding rol er members for aligning a stem upon the vertical axis of aholder, lever arms for ressing said stems in contact withsaid mem ersand means for automatically actuating said arms to rele'as said stems.

7. A machine for holding a lamp part during the insertion of -supportWires therein, comprising a conveyor disposed in operative relation to asupport wire inserting machine, a plurality of lamp part supportsrotatably mounted on said conveyor for successive disposition adjacentto said inserting machine, each holder including a plurality of pairs ofrollers positioned to ali n a lamp part upon the axis of rotation o asupport, a lever arm associated with each pair of rollers to ress thelamp part thereagainst and means orautomatically actuating the arms to7release 'said part. l n

In testimony whereof, IA have hereunto subscribed my name this irst dayof December 1924.

JOHN JOSEPH HIGGINS.-

